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I'm sure many of you reading this will be frustrated with the
stop start nature of the renewable energy policy. To try and get
the government to make better, faster decisions when it comes to
supporting and promoting low carbon Britain the Renewable Energy
Association (REA) is organising an open, public letter to the PM
and DPM, which needs to be signed today! www.surveymonkey.com/s/SignUpToLetter

Designed for anyone who needs to demonstrate a level of
knowledge across the main renewable and low carbon systems, the
Award is perfect for installers planning to go on to undertake full technical
qualifications in related disciplines, or managers, the sales
team and decision makers tasked with overseeing or advising on
building services.

Solar Power UK is hosting a series of events this February
designed to help solar businesses get ahead in 2013. Taking place
throughout the UK, the half day seminars will cover hot topics such
as the new MCS guide, Green Deal and updates from DECC.

The Qualifications and Credits Framework (QCF) is the new way
vocational training is being structured, providing a more flexible
route to achievement. Logic Certification has now launched a range
of QCF courses, covering the building services engineering sector,
with more planned over the coming months:

Yesterday (24th October) saw Logic Certification play host
to Energy Secretary, Ed Davey and the launch of a
new £500,000 training voucher scheme in a bid to raise the skills
set of existing plumbing and heating engineers, equipping them with
the expertise needed to install and maintain renewable heating or
hot water systems.

Logic Certification has published a new QCF qualification - Level 3 Award in Energy Efficiency for Gas Fired and Oil Fired Domestic Heating and Hot Water Systems.

The course is designed to enable installers of oil and gas fired boilers comply with the requirements of the Building Regulations Approved Document L1A and the Domestic Building Services Compliance Guide.

New statistics from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) show that domestic RHI installations have smashed the 20,000 milestone, with some 6,244 new accreditations since April 2014 when the initiative was officially launched.

New statistics from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) show that the UK’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is now helping to warm 25,000 homes, as consumers wake-up to the benefits of installing renewable technologies, such as heat pumps, solar thermal, solar pv and biomass systems.

With all 650 seats now declared, David Cameron has returned to Downing Street after the Tories secured a majority. The Conservatives have landed 331 seats in the House of Commons (24 more than in 2010), Labour have 232, the Lib Dems have 8, the SNP 56, Plaid Cymru 3, UKIP 1, the Green Party 1, and others 19.

UK businesses have joined forces to urge the government to address climate change and building a low-carbon Britain by writing an open letter to the prime minister, which was published in the Financial Times on 10th June.

It is feared that up to two million extra tonnes of CO2 could be created each year following the government’s dramatic u-turn on its zero carbon targets for new homes. Chancellor George Osbourne revealed that his zero carbon building policy is to be scrapped, which means two policies have been axed: an upgrade to the 2016 Building Regulations and the ‘Allowable Solutions’ carbon offsetting scheme.

The proposed cuts to the Feed in Tariffs (FiTs) could cause devastation to the renewables arm of building services engineering, reducing business streams for the organisations and sole traders that have invested in delivering this technology, and halting the pace of carbon reducing change across Britain.

A new report published by independent energy company, Good Energy has found that renewables are cutting the wholesale price of energy and lessening the effects of subsidies on bill payers. The announcement comes at a time where the government has pledged to cut subsidies for the likes of wind and solar to keep bills manageable for families and businesses.

Not quite the news we were hoping to hear: the Solar Trade Association (STA) claims that some 20,000 more jobs could be axed in the solar industry, as a result of proposed cuts to government subsidies; a slight improvement on the 27,000 jobs it had previously estimated.

Yesterday, (17th December), DECC announced the details of its Feed in Tariff Scheme review, confirming that subsidies will be cut by 64%, a significant figure, but not quite as much as the 84% predicted. Under the new tariffs, there will be a 4.8% rate of return for solar, 5.9% for wind, and 9.2% for hydro.

Following The House of Lords clash over cuts to the feed-in tariff, the Solar Trade Association (STA) has made great gains for the FiT scheme, with key recommendations being taken on board and implemented.

New Prime Minister, Theresa May, has scrapped the Department of Energy and Climate Change as part of a major cabinet reshuffle.

It was announced on Thursday that energy policy will now be decided by the newly-created Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, headed up by Greg Clark – Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The new department will be responsible for delivering industrial strategy, business relations, furthering the UK’s science base, delivering affordable, clean energy and tackling climate change.

The government has published its long-awaited response to the recent consultation on the future of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) which offers financial support and incentives for low-carbon heating technologies in domestic UK properties.

Several major changes were proposed by the consultation, with the scheme due for reform in April 2017.

Energy efficiency is a big buzz at the moment and rightly so in today's climate where money and resources should not be wasted. The Building Controls Association (BCIA) is encouraging both the current and next generation to invest in training, to ensure that the building services industry continues to keep pace with developments and new technologies in this exciting area.

Logic Certification approved centre, Narec Distributed Energy, has given heating engineers in the North East the chance to upskill into this important sector for free, with a range of Logic Certification renewable qualifications funded with money from the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Skills Funding Agency (SFA).

LCL centre, NAREC Distributed Energy, based in the National Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth, Northumberland has been awarded funding for two of our renewable qualifications they are running this Autumn - Solar Thermal Hot Water Systems, starting on the 31st October and Heat Pump training on the 7th November.